Cunningham Impeached Despite Own Contestation

The General Studies Student Council voted to impeach President Niko Cunningham Tuesday night in the midst of long-standing controversy surrounding his leadership. In response, Cunningham argued that the impeachment was not constitutionally or procedurally sound and said he will not recognize the vote.

“The whole thing’s a farce,” Cunningham said.

After a failed attempt to impeach Cunningham last week, Junior Class President Karly Curcio brought another motion to impeach him at this week’s meeting. The motion came towards the end of the meeting after several GSSC members had left, leaving just 16 including Cunningham. Twelve voted in favor of the impeachment, while three voted against.

Cunningham argued that the vote did not follow due process and was instead a “clear usurpation of power.” He pointed out that the item was not on the agenda, nor was there a motion to add it. He also noted that based on last week’s council vote that declared it unconstitutional for Cunningham to preside over his own impeachment, the fact that a vote to remove him from the chair had not been held meant, in impeaching him, the council had violated its own constitution.

“I’m not impeached,” Cunningham declared. “This wasn’t well thought out, and this wasn’t a proceeding.”

But GSSC members said that when the motion was taken, Cunningham was still in the room and didn’t break quorum until after the motion had been seconded, granting them the power to seek his impeachment.

“It passed completely legitimately,” Vice President of Policy Nancy Saunders said. “There was quorum when the motion was brought up.”

Cunningham’s removal from office would allow Saunders to assume the position of president. Saunders commented that she did not expect any appeals on Cunningham’s part to the Dean of Students office to be successful.

Cunningham said that GSSC members had waited until all those against his impeachment last week had left the room and subsequently jumped at the chance to impeach when they saw they would have the majority. “This was the equivalent of a firing squad,” Cunningham said, later continuing, “You have to look at who was there and how they voted last week.”

Cunningham said that, if necessary, he would bring a list of council members who were absent to the Dean of Students office. “I was elected with the most votes in the history of the GS student body. That means something,” he said.

The impeachment comes a day after the GSSC elections committee resigned following a dispute with the Judicial Committee, which Cunningham appoints and of which he is a member.

The conflict was resolved when the parties decided that the current Judicial Committee would be dissolved and that a new one would be appointed directly by the Dean of Students office. Under these new provisions, the EC agreed to resume their posts, and the election will go on as scheduled.

“I think that was a real eye-opener for people,” Saunders said. She thought that the controversy surrounding the elections caused several members to reconsider the issue of his impeachment, and said that she had been contacted by at least three council members who had previously voted against impeachment who were reconsidering.

While council members voting in favor of the impeachment now assume new leadership, Cunningham has said that he would not recognize another president, and that he would continue to exercise his role.

“I move on just like business is normal,” Cunningham said, “and anyone who doubts that can doubt it.”

alix.pianin@columbiaspectator.com